Refrigerator cabinet construction



ug. 1l, 1953 E. T. MoRToN 2,648,584

REFRICERATCR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1947 3 Sheeb-S-Shee'l l Aug. 11, 1953 E. T. MoRToN REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1947 Patented Aug. 11, 1953 OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Evans T. Morton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,669

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel refrigerator cabinet construction and particularly to the construction of the front portion of the cabinet involving the doorway frame, the food compartment liners, the outer shell, the sealing of the cabinet against the atmosphere, the securing of the ornamental trim pieces to the cabinet face, the sealing of the space within the door, and the sealing of the door against the doorway frame and the cabinet.

Developments in the mechanical refrigeration art during the past few years have produced n a commercial scale the multi-temperature, multi-compartment refrigerator wherein one of the compartments is cooled to a temperature considerably below the freezing point of water and another of the compartments is cooled to a temperature only slightly above the freezing point of water but with a very high humidity. To give added storage space and cleanliness G0 these compartments the evaporator coils are secured to the outer surfaces of the compartment liners, the walls of which are cooled to the temperature necessary to produce the desired compartmental temperatures.

Placing the coils eXteriorly of the liners places them within the insulated space in the cabinet which is that space between the compartment liner and the outer shell of the cabinet. This space is lled with a heat insulating material such as balsa wool, Aero Felt or rockwool. If there is substantial moisture in this insulated space-and there will be if atmospheric air can leak thereinto-it will condense upon the evaporator coils forming a frost. While it is not necessary to defrost refrigerators of this type as -often as the more conventional types of refrigerators, still they must be defrosted at greatly spaced intervals to remove the frost from within the freezing compartment or frost chest which is maintained at the sub-freezing temperature. During the defrosting operation, the frost on that part of the evaporator coil which operates below 32 F. would melt and run into the insulation and the latter would rot or mold and thereby lose much of its insulating qualities; of course, wet insulating material has poor insulating characteristics. Subsequent operation 'of the refrigerator would freeze the insulation into a solid iced block having poor insulating values. To prevent this condition from arising, it is desirable to seal the insulated space in the cabinet against the ingress of atmospheric air.'

Furthermore, sealing the insulated space vin the cabinet forms a dead air space therein, the

insulating characteristics of which are readily appreciated. f

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention to provide an improvedk heat insulated refrigerator cabinet. wherein the insulated space is sealed against the atmosphere.

.Another object is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet incorporating a one-piece molded plastic doorway. frame made of a thermal insulating material which in addition to forming a substantial portion of the front face ofthe cabinet forms the thermal breaker strip between the atmosphere and the compartments within the cabinet and provides a large portion of the structural support between the food compartment liners and the outer shell.

Another object isv to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet wherein the food compartment liners are sealed against the doorway frame in an airtight manner.

Another object is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet wherein the outer shell is sealed against the doorway frame in an airtight manner.

Afurther object -is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet wherein the food storage compartments and the insulated space are eiliciently sealed against the atmosphere and from each other. u Y t Still a further object is to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet for a multi-temperature, multi-compartment refrigerator wherein the compartments are efficiently insulated against heat transfer therebetween through the cabinet door.

A still further object is to provide a door'foi a multi-temperature, `multi-compartment refrig erator having a gasket engaging the cabinet face to seal one compartment from the other and incorporating means to Aregulate the pressure of the gasket against the cabinet face.

-Another object is to provide a door for a refrige eratorhaving a novel gasket construction to seal the insulated space within-the door against the ingress of atmospheric air.

Another object is to provide a novel means for attachingthe ornamental trim to the face of the cabinet. f

Still a further object is to provide an improved refrigerator` cabinet which may be easily and o rapidly assembled and has a rugged construction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.l l is anelevational View of a multi-temL perature, multi-compartment refrigerator With the main outer door removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing a fragment of the door;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a fragment of the main or outer door but with the inner door removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-.sectional view'taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a section through the main or outer door but with Vthe inner doors removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary lcross-sectional view taken in the horizontal plane of Fig. 4 adjacent one edge of the door to show the construction of the inner supports;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in perspective of the connection between the outer shell and the doorway yframe illustrating the `means for securing the ornamental trim in place;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 'I-l of Fig, 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the Construction at the lower edge of the doorway frame, with the vmai-n outer door eliminated;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to Fig. -2 illustrating a modified form of door construction; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional `view similar to Figs. 2 and 8i1lustrating another modified form of door construction.

The refrigerator cabinet, indicated generally by the reference character IU, includes a doorway frame I2 to which the front edges of the liners forming a freezing locker or frost chest Ill and a moist cold or food storage compartment I6 :are secured; a single piece outer shell I8 forming the top and side walls of the cabinet is secured at its front edge to the doorway frame. Below the food storage compartment I'B is a machinery compartment closed by a door .28. The whole cabinet I is mounted upon a base frame 22.

The general organization of the refrigerator and a further description of the cabinet forming the present invention are given in the co-pending application of Evans T. Morton, Serial No. 720,080, lflied January 3, 1947, for an invention entitled Refrigerator In this refrigerator, which is of the multi-temperature, multi-compartment type, the frost chest or freezing com- ,r

partmen-t i4 is maintained ata temperature of `approxirrlately to 8 above zero for the freezing of ice cubes and foodstuffs and for the .storage of frozen foodstuils. This compartment is preferably closed by inner doors 24 which are hinged to the frame I2. (Since these doors do not form any part of the present invention they have been omitted from Figs. 3 and 4 for the purpose of clarity.) The moist cold compartment VI6 is maintained at a temperature of Vabout 38 F. with a very high humidity. This compartment is tted with suitable shelves 28 a tray 28 for storing bulk foodstuffs such as lettuce, tomatoes and the like., .and ka condensed moisture Idisposal tray 3l). It is insulated from the freezing locker .I4 so that the heat transfer there between is sufficient to prevent cooling the compartment IS below freezing. Both the frostchest .I4 and the moist cold compartment I6 are lprovided with evaporator coils which are secured to the outer surfaces of the inner walls.

The cabinet I0 is provided with a main, outer door 32 having a one piece plastic material inner panel 3A and a metallic outer panel 36, the space between the panels being filled with suitable insulation 38. A .sealing `gasket fifi is secured to `generally vertical vleg members i2 which are joined by .a top cross member 44, a bottom cross member d@ and a medial cross member Q8. Il'he members ft2, IM, i6 vand 8 are formed of a phenolic resin, hard rubber or some other similar, suitable plastic material; the material chosen must be nonhygroscopic, moldable, and a good thermal insulator; the term molded plastic material in the claims is meant to include all such materials. The frame I2 is molded in one-piece, and its members are formed in cross section to give the desired structural strength and stabilit;7 while being relatively light in weight, since it is desired that a substantial portion of the load imposed by the food compartment liners be carried by the frame. In some instances the frame would be the sole support for the compartment liners.

The members, 42, lill, it and d8 of the frame have a general channel shape with web portions 5i) lying in the plane of the front face of the Cabinet (Fig. 2). The web 58 adjacent the com'- partment l5 is formed at its inner edge with 'an integral rearwardly extending ange 52 which is provided at spaced intervals with a plurality of bosses 5i formed with bores 56. A food comi partme-nt liner 58 which Idefines the food ystorage compartment i6 is provided at its front with a forwardly facing flange 88 which is vbent lforwardly at E2. vThe flange is provided with a plurality of holes 64 coinciding with the Openings 58 in the 'bosses 5a. Self-tapping Yscrews v66 are threaded through the holes V811i into the bosses to secure the flange 69 against the rear edge of the 4flange 52.

A block 58 of insulating material is placed against the inner face of the web 58 and is secured thereto by a layer 'I0 of a bituminous cement such as Hydrolene or some other adhesive compound. The whole of the joint between the flange 52 and the ilange 618 is given a thick coating I2 of Hydrolene or some other suitable ma'- terial, thereby sealing the joint between the food compartment liner 58 and the lframe I2 against the ingress of air.

At its outer peripheral edge the frame I2 is formed with a rearwardly extending flange 'I4 and a second flange 'i8 which lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the web 5B but to the rear thereof, giving a stepped effect to the outer edge.

At its forward edge the outer shell I8 is bent inwardly at "I8 and then back upon itself at `80 to form a flange 82 of double thickness of metal. The free edge of the inner thickness of the metal is bent at 84 toward the center of the cabinet to provide a flange 86 parallel to the flange 82 and to the rear thereof. This flange 86 lies against the rear face of Athe frame flange 16 and is secured thereto by suitable self-tapping screws 81. The flanges 'I4 and I6 of the frame and the flanges 82 and 86 form, with the shell I8, a

-projects toward the centerof the ing of the frost chest I4.

fgener'ally rectangular recess or pocket 88 around .the outer periphery of the frame .|2 and between the frame and the shell.

Within the recess 88 .there is positioned a plural- 'ity of spring clips 90 'which retain'the ornamental trim strips 92'in place. The shape of. the clip 90 is shownv most clearly in Fig. 5 where it isseen to be formed of a single piece of resilient wire. The clip comprises a pivot leg 94, a hook 96 at one end, an .elbowed arm 98 connecting the hook S96 and the pivot leg 94, and an anchor |00 which "against the flange I6 and the hook 96 vengaging the edge 80 of the flange 82. With the clips 90 thus held in place'liquid Hydrolene or some other ,suitable sealing compound |06 is poured into the recess and over the anchor |00. 'of theclips to vseal the joint between the vframe I2 and the outer shell |8 against` leakage of air into the insulated space in the cabinet.v While the clips r90 function without any means for holding them in the recess 88, the sealing compound |06 covers .their anchors and when hardened prevents accidental or inadvertent removal of the clips.

The ornamental trim strip 92 which may be an aluminum extrusion vis sufficiently wide to vcover the gap between `the web 50 of the frame Vand the edge 80 of the outer shell flange 82 and to overlie the flange slightly. A pair of hook shaped ribs and"|0'| areformed on the rear face of the strip 92, the rib |05 being engaged vby the hook 96 and the rib =I01 engaging the edge 80 of the flange 82. The strip 92 is seated -by first engaging the hooks S6 of' the clips 90 with the ribl |05 and then forcing the strip tcward the doorway frame I2 until the rib |0'I can engage the edge 80. The elbowed arm 98 of the clip 90 pivots about the leg 94 and may bend itself if necessary to allow the hook 96 to move the distance necessary t0 seat the strip. However,

once the trim strip 92 is in place it is retained by the clip 90r which isunder a tension. The

.strip 92 is readily removed by reversing the operations. In `the embodiment illustrated the ornamental trim around the edge of the frameA I2 is in five separate 4pieces withthe joints between the pieces at Athe side and top being covered by flat clips 93 and a name plate 95, vrespectively. f

, Fig. 3 is a section taken throughl the verticalI member 42 of the doorway frame I2 adjacent the frost chest or freezing locker I4 and illustrates the manner in which liner 0 formingthe freez- ,ing locker is secured to flange 2 on. the vertical member42 and crossmembers 44 and 48.

,Ihe flange |j|2 ycorresponds to the previously described ange 52 and is formed integrally with la second ange ||4 which lies in a plane sub,-

stantially parallelto the plane of the web 50 but spaced to the rear thereof. The flange I|4 doorway open- The freezing lockerliner I |0 is provided `at its front with a Aforwardly vfacing'iiange ||6 formed integrally with a forwardly projecting and shorter ange H8. A sealing gasket. of soft rubberlike material is confined in the space forme-d by the flanges ||6, |I8 and| I4. An angular metal trim piece |22 substantially covers the flange I I4 the rearwardly projecting flange of the trim member |22 and the gasket |20; a second flange |30 overlies the liner ||0 thereby thermally separating the liner I|0 from the angular trim member |22.-l The joint is secured by a plurality of selftappingscrews I32'which pass through the trim piece |22, ange |I4, stem |26 Aand gasket |20 `and screw into the flange |I6.

The joint between the freezing locker liner |0 and the'frame I2 is of the semi-permanent type 'because it may be desired at times to remove that portion of the refrigeration system from the cabinet which cools the freezing locker I4. In refrigerators of the type described it is customary permanently to secure the coils of the evaporator to the outer face -lof the liner, and it is,l therefore, expedient and necessary to remove kthe entire liner from the cabinet rather than toremove the coil from the liner. The removalof the liner from the cabinet I0 is very readily accomplished because it is secured to the frame solely by the screws |32 which are accessible from the front of the cabinet. However, the joint between the .freezing locker liner I|0 and the frame I2 is eiliciently sealed against the ingress of atmospheric air into the insulated space of the cabinet and is ornamentally concealed by the trim strip .I22. It is not necessary that this strip |22 be made continuous around the doorway opening, and it may be made in as many sections or pieces as desired.

Fig. 4 is a Icross sectional view taken through the -medial cross member 48 to showhow the liners I |0 and 58 are secured thereto. The joint between the frost chest liner ||0 and themedial cross bar 48 lis substantially the samev as that shown in Fig. 3 and need not be redescribed since the reference characters indicate the similar parts. However, the joint between the food compartment liner 58 and the cross member 48 is changed'slightly because this liner is crowned at |34 so that the moisture which is condensed within lthe food compartment will run down the crowned yceiling to the side walls of the compartment.y Since the crowned ceiling |34is raised above the joint, the liner is formed with a wall |36 which extends downwardly toward a curved sible to use ordinary round head screws at this point since the wall |36 interferes to the applicationof ascrew driver to thescrew kerf. The

ilange lis held against the frame at this point,

therefore, by a plurality of hex headed self-tapping screws |40. This joint like that previously described is coated with the sealing ycompound 'I2 to seal it against leakage of atmospheric air into the insulated space in the refrigerator cabinet.

The,l cabinet construction at the bottom of the vfood vstorage compartment I6 is shown in the'enlargedcross-se'ctional view of Fig'. 7. The bottom Vcross member. 46 .has the same general cross- 'sectional configuration `members 4,2 and similar reference Acharacters in jafeassfcsa.

as Ido the vertical side Figs. :2, 3 and '7 Arefer to :similar parts. The bottom wall of the Ycompartment liner 58is fastened to the flange 52 of the cross member Allt .in the .previously `described manner.

The top of the machinery compartment is closed by a metallic partition or wal1'2Il4 'which extends from `the front `to therear of the cabinet and across the 'full width thereof between the side portions of the outer shell I8. The Lfront edge of the wall '2M is spotwelded or otherwise secured to nange 20.6 of a rail 208 lwhich extends across the front of the cabinet -between the side portions or the outer .shell I8 and may -be secured thereto in any suitable imanner. 'The rail 208 has 4a vertical front portion 210 integral with the nange 2.85 and with a second flange '2 I2 which is 'parallel to the flange 206 Vandiorms the bottom portion of a recess 2id which is simil-ar to the recess 83 at the side of the cabinet. 'The flange 2 I2 is vintegral with :a vertically extending flange 21E"which lies behind 'the frame flange i'it 'and corresponds to the flange 86 of the outer shell.

The flange 16 of the frame I2 land the flange 2I6 of the cross rail 258 are ysecured together bythe previously mentioned self-tapping screws 81. The joint between the bottom wall -204 and the rail 2 IIl is sealed by la filling -oi Hydrolene or fsome other suitable-sealing compound `2H! so as to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air into the 4insulated portion of the cabinet at this point. The wall '28E is closed against the side walls of the outer shell I8 in a Vconventional and well 'known manner, and this joint likewise is coated with a sealingcompou-nd such as Hydrolene.

The front face 21B of the rail 228 is covered by a double T-shaped member 220 which has :its outer face `222 coated with porcelain enamel or other nish so -as to match the finish of fthe-remainder of the cabinet. The member 22|) is provided with legs 224 and 226 which engage on `the outer faces of the flanges 2506 and 2 I2, respectively, .and il desired may be spotwelded thereto. The member 229 is formed of a singlek piece of rnetal and is bent back upon itself-to form the legs 22d and 225 so that at its outer edges it comprises -edge portions 228 and 230 of double thicknesses of metal. The upper edge 232 of the portion 2.32 corresponds to the edge 80 of the flange 82 on the outer shell I8 and the ornamentaltr'im strip 92 is engaged between the edge 232 andthe hook ST6 on the spring clip 90 which is lsecured in the recess 2M in the same manner as was described in connection with the placing and securing of the spring clips 90 i-n the recess 88.

After the spring clips Vi have `been inserted into 'the recess vZIA, a suitable sealing compound |96 is poured into this recess to seal the connection between the rail 208 and the frame I2 so that there will be no leakage of atmospheric air into the insulated portion of the cabinet at this point.

'The space between the outer shell VI8 and the liners 58 and II!) between the liner '58 and the wall 2M and between the liners 58 and IIB is lled with a suitable heat insulating material |42 such as balsa wool which may be placed in the space in any suitable manner. If the insulating I'naterial is loose it is blown into place; or it may be formed in blocks or in pads. The freezing locker liner IIIl and the food storage compartment liner 58 are thermally separated from each other by the medial cross bar 4B which is an integral part of the frame; there is, therefore, no

.metal-to-metal contact between these liners where their adjacent 'edges :are secured to the frame I2. The freezing locker'l'# insulated from the food storage compantment I-.i Eby Wedgeshaped :blocks =of insulation |44, and Ethe :liner fl I0 is surroundedby a :space |46 vvfor Vthe evaporator tubing which lin part is deiined by a nsti-ff card-- board-like wrapper '|48 and in part bythe insulation |44.

The main or outer door 32 (Figs. .2 to 55.) includes an outer .shell y36 and an inner panel "34 with the space :between .the outer shell 36 .fand the panel 3'4 filled with heat insulating material similar tothe material |f42. 'Themetall'icshell has a :generally .pan-like shape 'so that there will be substantial thickness to the door. Around its outer .periphery the shell 316 'has Aa turned-in flange 1:50 to which "is secured, as 'by welding, ian .angle member |52 the wider flange of which vlis coextensive with the flange 1:59. rThe sealing gasket 4i) which extends :around the outer Aperiphery of the door of ia lwell-known shape and is lprovided with a vportion |54 .confined :between the outer .peripheral edge of the panel 34 fand the .shell flange .so that 'the -vhollow :sealing portion |56 is seated 1against vthe `flange `432 when the door is Vclosed (Figs. 2 and 4).. The panel $34 is secured to `the .shell '38 and 'the gasket @tu is held in place by fa plurality of screws |58 the heads of which lareconc'ealed bythe ysealing @portion |56 of the gasket.

Opposite the medial cross member its a reinforcing channel member -IGD is secured :across the full width of the door and in the space between the panel .34 land the shell S36. The channel member '|66 is bent inwardly lat |62 toward the angle member |52 and at its extremities is pro'- vided with outwardly extending fears F64 iwhich Aare spotwelded to the angle member 1:52I (Fig. '5).

.The channel and a lsimilar `channel |161 "(Fi'g.

2), `which .preferably is placed somewhat below the latch position indicated by the reference character YI'll (Fig l) :give rigid-ity to the door and, with 'the structural angle member 152, prevent the .door from 'buckling or twisting.

To give the panel 3'4 a :substantial amount of rigidity it is vprovided with ribs lor Vridges 1168 and |10. 'The vrib |68, generally rectangular in shape, is formed in the panel 34 opposite the freezing -l'ocker |1l,.andthe rib |10, likewise generally rectangular in shape with a crowned portion conforming tothe crowned wall 'I38,lies opposite the edge .of the access `opening to the 'moist-cold compartment I6 when the door is closed. rThe rib construction reduces the :space between the frame I2 and the door 32 when the latter is closed (Figs. 2, i3 and 4) and v'cooperates with the sealing gasket 40 substantially to prevent heat losses in the food storage portion of the cabinet.

A generally channel-shaped member |12 "is laid against the inner face of the panel 34 between the ribs |68 and y|110 and with its -open side directed toward the open side vof the lchan-nel member |60. The channel |12 is secured to the channel |60 by a pair of Ushaped brackets or stirrups |14 which have the base portion '|16 thereof welded to the base of the channel F50. The U-shaped brackets lare positioned adiacen't the extremities of the channel |60 land the legs thereof are provided with the turned-ln nange or foot portions |18 which are secured by suitable means such as screws |19 to vweb `Illl of the channel member |12. 'I'he legs of the" U-shaped bracket `|14 are of a length which will hold the web or base I 80 of the channel |12 flat ragainst the inner face of the ydoor panel 34.

A flexible v'ap'r s'eal |82 is secured across the interior of the door immediately below the channels I60 and |12 and divides the interior' of tlie door into an upper compartment 200 and a lower compartment 202. The Vapor seal |82 preferably is made of a waterproof tape such as Per-macell,` and an edge portion |84 thereof is held between the web |80 of the channel |12 and the inner face of the door panel 34, and the other edgev |86 is vsecured to the inner face of the shell r36. The vapor seal I 82 is secured to the shell 36 by a coat of bituminous cement |88 and is sealed against the panel 34 by a similar coating of bituminous cement |90, the web |88 being provided with a raised rib |92 along its center so that a quantity of soft permagum may be held therein for sealing purposes. If desired the tape vor seal |82 may have an adhesive coating for `sticking it to the shell 36 and panel 34.

The panel 34 is secured. to the channel |60 by one or more, and preferably four, long screws |94 lwhich also secure a hollow divider gasket |96 `across the face of the panel |36 between the ribs .|63 and |10 and in such position so that the gasket |96 seals against the cross bar 48 when the door 32 is closed. 'I'he divider gasket |96 prevents cold air from circulating from the frost chest vI4 to the moist cold storage compartment I6. The long screws |94 are positioned close to the center of the gasket |96 and, therefore, the center of the door so that the pressure with which the gasket |96 seals against the doorway :frame I2 may be adjusted. Other and shorter :screws |98 secure the gasket to the panel 34 and lchannel |12 at other spaced points across the fdoor and likewise hold the channel |12 against 'the inner face of the panel 34. The vapor seal 'tape |82 is flexible and the portion which extends -across the interior of the door is wider than the door is thick so that adjustments may be made fin the distance between the panel 34\ and the .shell 36 to adjust the pressure of the dividing gasket |96 against the frame.

When the refrigerator is operating normally fthe average temperature differential between the :freezing compartment |4 and the storage compartment I6 will be about 30 to 32 F., and conrsequently, that portion of the panel 34 opposite 'the freezing locker |4 will be subjected to much #colder temperatures than the portion of the panel 34 opposite the storage compartment I6 despite fthe fact that the freezing compartment may be jprovided with inner doors 24. This temperature will be substantially below freezing and vair trapped in the insulated portion of the door will lbe substantially cooled. The vapor seal |82 di'- -vides the insulated portion of the door into the `two compartments 200 and 202 and prevents cir- -culation of air within the'insulated space and between the compartments. The cooling effect 'that the freezing locker has upon the main outer door 32, therefore, is not transmitted to any appreciable extent to the moist-cold compartment I6.

In order that the door 32 illustrated in section in Figs. 2 and 3 will not leak along the peripheral joint between4 the Vshell 36 and the inner panel 34, it is necessary that the securing screws |58 be located quite close together; vIt has been vfound in practice that large sheets` of moldable 10 planar edge surface. Consequently, when such a panel is secured to the shell 36 and the reinforcing angle member I 52,- the attaching or scuring screws |58 must be located close together so as to minimize' the warping effect.

The marginal edge construction' of the door panel and the joint illustrated in* Figs. 8 vand 9 have been found to provide an yairtigl'it Vjoint between the inner panel and the shell by mini-'-v mizing the warping effect at the edge of the inner panel and by providing an improved sealing' gas; liet which permits use of fewer securing screws.

Door 240 has an inner panel 242 and outer shell 244 which are similar, respectively, to the panel 34 and the shell 36 except las hereinafter noted. The shell 244 has aninturned flange 246 formed around its peripheral edge which is secured as by welding to an angle member 248, the longer flange of the angle being coextensive with the flange 246. The inner panel 242 is formed with an inwardly-projecting (i. e., projecting toward theinterior of the door) arcuately shaped bead 250 which extends completely around and is spaced inwardly from the edge of the panel 242 a distance approximately equal to the width of the flange 246.

A sealing gasket 252 is secured around the edge of the door and has two sealing portions, sealing portion 254 being hollow land thereby compressible so that it seals the space between the door 242 and the face 'of the cabinet. The portion 254 of the gasket 252 engages the flange 82 in the same manner as does the portion |56 of the gasket 40 and for the same purposes. The second sealing portion 256 of the gasket is confined between the marginalY edge ofthe panel 242 and the flange 246 for the purpose of lsealing the space between the panel 242 and the shell 244 against the ingress of atmospheric air. This sealing portion 256 may be ribbed as shown in the drawing to increase its sealing characteristics.

Referring particularly now to Fig.-8, it will be seen that the inner edge of the portion 256 is formed with a hollow comp-ressible ybead 258 which is confined between the bead 250 of .the panel 242 and a bend 260 in the angle 248. Since it is possible carefully to control the shape and. position of the bead 250 and the angle248 in relation one vto the other, the space between these two surfaces is such that the bead 258 is compressed when 'the panel 242 is connected to the'shell 244 by means of suitable screws 262. TheA heads of the screws 262 are covered by the vhollow portion 254 of they gasket. f

By using' this construction it is possible to eliminate approximately one-half of the screws 262 formerly required for .keeping the Vmarginal 'edges of the inner panel tight .against the shell 244 and interposed gasketA (Fig. 2), and even with this construction there .was no guarantee .that a substantially airtight seal could be effected. With the construction shown'in Figs. 8 and 9 the marginal edges ofthe panelv 242 have less tendency to assume a .wavy or warpedshape and should there be `any waviness to this portion plastic material such as that from which the panel 34 is made havea tendency to warp and even though they be provided with stiifening ribs |68 and |10, the marginal edges of the door .show a tendency to present aY wavy or nonthe air which Vmayleak between the Aedge of the panel 242 andthe shell 244 is prevented from passing. into-.the insulated spacezbythe bead 258 of the gasket. y I' 1 @The construction shown in Fig. 9 is similar to .that shown in Fig. 8 except that the bead 258 is replaced by a bead 264 which .is solid in construction., and isheld between-inner ledge266 of the flange 246 and the bead-,250. The bead asias sa 264 performs the same function as does the bead 260, but it is not quite as compressible as the hollow bead. The gasket shown in Fig. 8 is preferably made of a natural rubber which may be made with the hollow portions, while that illustrated in Fig. 9 is made of a synthetic rubber.

The space between the shell 2M and the inner panel 242 is filled with heat insulating material l268 and the remaining construction of the door,

particularly the cross-reinforcing members, may

be the same as that shown and described with reference to Figs. 2 to 5.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the refrigerator cabinet of this invention is provided with a doorway frame I2 of plastic material which forms a substantial part of the Vfront face of the cabinet, acts as the thermal breaker strip between the outer shell and the liners and between the liners themselves, and carries a substantial part of the load imposed by the liners lid andl 58. This frame l2 is light in weight, and since it has a generally channel shaped cross section is also structurally stable and strong. The joints between the frame and the liners and between the frame and the outer shell of the cabinet are esaled to prevent any leakage of atmospheric air into the insulated. space in the cabinet. In order to insure that the cabinet is completely sealed, the other joints which are at the rear and bottom of the cabinet are also sealed in an airtight manner.

The main and outer door of the cabinet is efficient in cooperating with the frame and shell of the cabinet to seal the food compartment liners from the atmosphere and from each other.

It also has its insulation containing sp-ace sealed in .an airtight manner against the ingress of atmospheric air. By Virtue of the fact that the .door is exteriorly and interiorly divided into portions corresponding to the freezing loc-ker and the moist-cold compartment, there is only a minimum heat transfer between these compartments via the door.. Y

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes in the cabinet forming the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof which is set out in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A refrigerator cabinet including a compartment adapted to be refrigerated and an insulated vspace around the compartment Ysealed against the atmosphere, comprising in combination, a

one-piece molded plastic material doorway frame including a pair of generally vertical members .connected by integral cross members, said vertical members and said cross members defining the access opening tov the compartment, said members having a substantially rearwardly projecting flange around the access opening, a liner dening the compartment and having a forwardly facing flange around its open side Vadapted to face said flange on .said frame,v removable means securing said flanges together to mount said liner to said frame so that it may readily be removed from the cabinet, a sealing gasket coextensiv-e with said flanges and clamped'there'f between so as'to seal against leakage ofair beltween said flanges and into the insulated space, a trim member ornamentally covering said sealing -gasket'and the vjoint between said flanges,and means thermally insulating said trim member from said liner.

2. A refrigerator cabinet including a compartment adapted to be refrigerated and an insulated Space around the compartment sealed against the atmosphere, comprising in combination, a one-piece molded plastic material doorway frame including a pair of generally vertical members connected by integral cross members, an outer metallic one-piece shell forming the outer top and side walls of the cabinet, the forward edge of said shell being bent to form an inwardly di,- rected flange of double thickness of metal at the face of the cabinet and a second flange of a single thickness of metal parallel to said double thickness flange but .spaced tothe rear thereof., said doorway frame being provided with an attaching flange around its outer periphery which is positioned to overlie said second flange on said shell thereby forming a recess .at the joint between said frame and said double thickness shell Bange, means securilllV said frame flange to .said second shell flange, means contained in said recess sealing the joint between said frame and said shell against the leakage of air therelast, whereby the insulated space in the cabinet is sealed against the atmosphere, an ornamental trim strip closing said recess, and resilient means having an end embedded in said sealing means and a free end engageable with a part of said trim strip removably to hold the latter in place.

3. A refrigerator cabinet including a compartment `adapted to be refrigerated vand .an .insulated space around the compartment sealed against the atmosphere, comprising in confibination,l a one-piece molded plastic material doorway frame including a pair of generally vertical members connected by integral cross members, an outer metallic one-piece shell forming the outer top and side walls of the cabinet, the forward edge of said shell being bent to form an inwardly di.- rected flange of .double thickness of metal at the face of the cabinet and a second flange of a single thickness of metal parallel to said double thickness flange but spaced to the rear thereof., said doorway frame being provided with a rearwardly positioned and outwardly extending outer peripheral ange which is positioned to -overlie' said second shell flange thereby forming. a recess at the joint between said frame and said shell, means securing said frame. flange to said second shell ilange soV that said frame is supported by said shell, means contained in said recess sealing the joint between .said frame and said shell against the leakage of air therepast, whereby the insulated space in the cabinet is sealed against the atmosphere, an ornamental trim member concealing the gap between said frame and said double thickness flange, and resilient means held in place by said sealing means for removably holding said trim member in place.

4. A refrigerator cabinet including a compart ment adapted to be refrigerated and an insular.,- ed space around' the compartment .sealediagainst the atmosphere, comprising combination, .a one-piece molded plastic material doorway frame including a pair of generally vertical mem-bers connected by integral cross members, an outer metallic one-piece shell forming the outer top and side walls of the cabinet, the forward edge vof said shell being bent to form an Vmwa-mw directed flange of double thickness of metal atl the face of the cabinet and a second Vflange' of 'a single thickness of metal parallel to sai-d double thickness flange but spaced to the Arear thereof, said doorway frame being provided with a' rearwardlyvpositioned and outwardly extending outer peripheral ange which is positioned to overlie said second shell flange thereby forming a recess at the joint between said frame and said shell, means securing said frame flange yto said second shell flange, means contained in said recess sealing the joint between said frame and said shell against the leakage of air therepast, whereby the insulated space in the cabinet is sealed against the atmosphere, an ornamental trim member concealing the gap between said frame and said double thickness flange, and a plurality of resilient members removably securing said trim member in place.

5. A refrigerator cabinet including a compartment adapted to be refrigerated and an insulated space around the compartment sealed against the atmosphere, comprising in combination, a one-piece molded plastic material doorway frame including a pair of generally vertical members connected by integral cross members, an outer metallic one-piece shell forming the outer top and side walls of the cabinet, the forward edge of said shell being bent to form an inwardly directed flange of double thickness of metal at the face of the cabinet and a second flange of a single thickness of metal parallel to said double thickness flange but spaced to the rear thereof, said doorway frame being provided with a rearwardly extending outer peripheral ange which is positioned to overlie said second shell flange thereby forming a recess at the joint between said frame and said shell, means securing said frame flange to said second shell llange, means contained in said recess sealing the joint between said frame and said shell against the leakage of air therepast, whereby the insulated space in the cabinet is sealed against the atmosphere, an ornamental trim member concealing the gap between said frame and said double thickness iiange, and a plurality of resilient members removably securing said trim member in place, said resilient members being secured in said recess by said sealing means.

6. A refrigerator of the multi-temperature multi-compartment type, including in combination a cabinet containing a plurality of compartments adapted to be refrigerated, heat insulating material in said cabinet insulating said compartments from each other, a single door adapted to close said compartments and having an inner panel of a thermally nonconducting material, an outer shell, and heat insulating material filling the space within said door, sealing gasket means carried by said door to seal said compartments from the atmosphere and from each other when said door is closed, and sealing means within said door to divide the insulated space therein into the same number of dead air spaces as there are refrigerated compartments, said sealing and dividing means being positioned within said door opposite the insulating material between said compartments, whereby circulating air within said door is prevented from effecting heat transfer between said compartments.

7. A refrigerator of the multi-temperature, multi-compartment type, including in combination a cabinet containing a plurality of compartments adapted to be refrigerated, heat insulating material in said cabinet insulating said compartments from each other, a single door adapted to close said compartments and having an inner panel of a thermally nonconducting material, an outer shell, and heat insulating material filling the space within said door, sealing gasket means carried by said door to seal said compartments from each other to prevent air circulating therebetween when the door is closed, adjustable means carried by said doorv in the interior thereof whereby the pressure exerted by said sealing gasket means may be adjusted, and sealing means within said door to divide the insulated space therein into the same number of dead air spaces as there are `refrigerated compartments, said sealing and dividing means being positioned within said door opposite the insulating material between said compartments, whereby circulating air within said door is prevented from effecting heat transfer between said compartments. Y

8. A door for a multi-temperature, multi-compartment refrigerator comprising in combination, a one-piece inner panel of a thermally nonconducting material, an outer shell secured around its periphery to said inner panel, heat insulating material filling the space between said panel and said shell, means extending between and sealed to said panel and said shell dividing the door into the same number of compartments as there are compartments within the refrigerator, each door compartment being of substantially the same area size as the access opening to the refrigerator compartment to which itis adapted to be opposite, a sealing gasket secured jacent said sealing and dividing meanswith itsextremities adjacent said sealing gasket.'-

9. A refrigerator cabinet for a refrigerator of the multi-temperature multi-compartment type, including in combination an outer shell having a forward edge portion lying in the plane of the cabinet face, a food storage compartment defining liner for each compartment, a doorway frame of molded plastic material having a substantially at surface lying in the plane of the cabinet face, said doorway frame comprising longitudinal and cross members defining the laccess-openings to the food storage compartments, said outer shell being attached to the outer peripheral edge of said frame and said liners being attached to the longitudinal and transverse members of said frame whereby said frame thermally insulates the forward edges of said liners and said shell from each other, heat insulating material filling the space dened by said shell, said liners and said frame, a single door closing said access openings, peripheral and transverse sealing gasket members carried by said door and adapted when said door is closed to engage against said shell edge portion and said frame to seal each of the food storage compartments from each other and from the atmosphere, said door including a single piece inner panel of plastic material and an outer shell having their marginal edges secured together, the space between said panel and said shell being lled with heat insulating material, and sealing means contained within said door dividing the insulated space into the same number of compartments as there are food storage compartments, said sealing and dividing means being positioned within said door opposite said frame cross bars and adjacent said transverse gasket members thereby to prevent circulation of air within the insulated space in said door from a point opposite one compartment to a point opposite a second compartment, whereby heat transfer between the refrigerated compartments through the door is minimized.

10. A refrigerator cabinet for a refrigerator of the multi-temperature multi-compartment type, including 'in combination fan outer shell having 'a forward 'edge por-tion lying in the plane 'ci the cabinet face, .a compartment defining l'liner .for each of the refrigerated compartments, a doorway frame of molded plastic .material vhaving a substantially ilat surface lying :in the .plane of the cabinet face, said doorway frame comprising Alorigitudinal 'and cross members ydefining the Yaccess openings to the refrigerated compartments, said outer yshell being attached to the outer peripheral edge orf said .iframe 'and said liners being attached to the longitudinal and transverse members "of said frame whereby said frame thermally insulates the forward edges of sai-d liners .and said shell froxn each other, heat insulating material filling Kthe space defined by said shell, said liners and .said frame, a 'single door vclosing said access openings, sealing gasket means Vcarried by said door vand 'adapted to lengage :against said Ashell edge port-ion `and said ,-frame .to seal each -of the refrigerated vcomparmi-*lents .from each 'other and from the atmosphere, said door including asingle piece inner panel of :plastic material and anouter shell, lthe space between said panel and said shell being -rilled with heat insulating material, and means carried by Asaid door whereby the pressure exerted by that `portion of said sealing gasket means sealing against that :portion of said frame thermally separating said liners from .each other may Ibe adiusted 11. A refrigerator cabi-net for -a refrigerator -of the multi-.temperature multi-compartment type, including lin combi-nation an outer shell, a -com partment `defining .liner -for each of the refrigerated compartments, -a `doorway frame of molded plastic material having -a ,substantially fiat surface lying in the plane of the cabi-net face, `said doorwayframe comprising ylongitudinal and cross members defining the access openings to the refrigerated compartments, .said -outer -shell 'being attached .to the outer Yperipheral edge Aof 'said frame andsaid liners being attached to the .1on-

gitudinal and 'transverse members of said frame whereby said frame thermally insulates the forward edges of said liners .and said -sh'ell from .each other, heat insulating :material lling the .space dened by said shell, said liners and .said frame, aisingle door closing said access openings, sealing gasket means `carried yby said ,door to rseal the refrigerated ,compartments from the atmosphere, a dividing sealing gasket means carried by said door 'and 'adapted to seal against a transverse member to seal yachaeent compartments :from each Aother., said door being :constructed with a single piece inner panel of plastic .material and an outer shell, the space ibetween said .panel and said sheil being filled with insulating material, structural Kbracing means secured Vwithin said insulatedspace in said door., :and means ycarried by said 4door .and cooperating with said bracing means whereby the .pressure .exerted .by said ldi-A vider sealing gasket means against :said transverse member imay beiadjusted.

EVANS T. 'MGRTON.

References `Cited in the le of this vpatent l-UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v:Date

1,809,150 Swedman .June 9., 219311 v2,020,845 -Marshal-l Nov. i12, -1-935 2,280,254 Nave Afpr. 2l, 1942 2,301,020 Dailey Nov. :3., 15942 y2,329,752 Goulooze :Sept. 28, -194-3 2,329,553 yGoulooze Sept. 21, 19.43 2,363,530 Iw'ashita Nov. 28, A1944 2,363,591 .Howard ;N0v. 528, 194.4 .2,375,880 Yoxsimer :May 15, Y1945 2,416,017 Nofzinger `Feb. r18, v19e-'7 V2,426,955 Rundell Aug. '-9, 1947 2,430,456 Dailey Nov. .11, A1.947 2,433,188 Kalisher .'Dec. 23,:1947 2,434,361 Iwashita -Jan. 13, :1948 2,464,526 "Palmer .Mar..15, 1949 

